UNC man (un) Senator for a day

UNC Senator Arnim Smith was forced into  embarrassed silence yesterday when Senate Vice-President Rawle Titus made it clear to him that he was a virtual “squatter” at Tuesday’s sitting and had no legitimate status as a Senator then.

Smith’s appointment had been revoked by President Professor Max Richards on  Tuesday, on the advice of Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday. But Smith turned up for the sitting, becoming in parliamentary parlance a “stranger” sitting in a “senator’s chair.” The UNC leader had decided to appoint a doctor to speak in the debate on the Medical Board Amendment bill. Newsday understands that an instrument of revocation (of Smith’s appointment) along with an instrument of appointment of Dr Patricia Deonarine had been prepared and submitted to the Parliament. Deonarine did not show up to take the oath. Smith was there and Titus decided not to read the instrument of revocation, even though it did take effect. But none of this was known to most people in the chamber on Tuesday.

The first clue that something fishy had gone on yesterday was when Titus announced that the President had revoked Smith’s appointment on Tuesday and then the President had re-appointed him yesterday. Smith, who was seated in the VIP gallery rose and took the oath. There were bewildered looks from Government and Independent senators as well as members of the media as Smith went through all the procotol of a new senator, being led by Minority Leader Wade Mark to shake hands with Government leader Dr Lenny Saith, and Independent Senator Dr Eastlyn McKenzie. People were wondering what was really going on. But the stuff hit the fan when Smith made the mistake later on of referring to something that happened at  Tuesday sitting — at which he alleged Public Utilities Minister  refused to answer a particular question. “You were not a senator then,” PNM Martin Joseph taunted, but Smith was undaunted.

It was at this point that Titus felt constrained to put the recently re-instated senator in his place. “I tried to be as discreet as possible. We spoke with the leader of the Government in the Senate and as a result no mention was made of it,” Titus said in soft tones, almost as though he was sharing a deep secret. “Today I had to read it into the record because you were appointed as senator. Yesterday you were not a senator! If you were in the House, it was at the discretion, only of the Chair, and it was dealt with very discreetly...You cannot ask about matters of yesterday!” Titius stated firmly.

Mark told reporters later on that the UNC had acceded to the doctors’ request to have a representative speak on the Medical Board Amendment Act, but then the doctors  changed their mind. He said the withdrawal of Smith’s appointment was not supposed to take place but because of the “efficiency” at the President’s House, which acted immediately, things got “messed up.”  “Let me tell you that we have an very efficient President,” he said grinning broadly. He added that the UNC had grown accustomed to the last President taking a week before responding to requests. Robin Montano said the muddle as the result of “us assuming that the President’s House would continue to be inefficient.” Both men stressed that the mix-up was “no big deal.”